A Spark of Ingenuity
Owning a small business is no accident for Sinan Leylek, the 29-year-old owner of Spark Rentals.
Leylek started Spark four years ago to rent out everything a special event might need for lighting, audio visual equipment, plus dance floors and inflatable tents. The idea for the business germinated young: “We had the occasional party in high school,” Leylek admits. He bought a fog machine for a house party, and when he tried to sell it afterwards, people kept asking if they could rent it instead. When someone asked if he had a laser light, he said yes–and then rushed to acquire one.
After studying marketing and entrepreneurship for his Bachelor of Commerce, Leylek bought a round-the-world ticket for a travel break. That’s how he ended up outside of Guangzhou, China, visiting factories to learn about the quality and safety standards of lighting and special effects equipment. Returning home, he found store space in Portage Place through Launch it!, a business launch program from the Downtown BIZ: “I wanted to get a physical presence that would let people see the products are as good as any online business.”
Weddings and school dances remain a mainstay, but the business has shifted towards more corporate events and sports viewing parties. One highlight remains the spring of 2018, during the playoffs for the Winnipeg Jets, when suddenly every social and event had a last-minute request to add a screen to watch the game. “There was a bit of juggling to make sure most people could get what they need,” says Leylek.
A fan of local business, Leylek loves being able to give back to the community, with one example being Spark Rental’s sponsorship of the annual fundraiser for kids’ art centre Art City. After Spark Rental’s move to Selkirk Avenue, Leylek recently joined the board of the Selkirk Avenue BIZ, a business improvement association. He absolutely loves being located in the friendly North End: “I appreciate the hard work you see around here by businesses. There’s a lot more foot traffic in the area, people walking by and saying hello.”
All photos by Kristhine Guerrero
